Throwback Thursday Taree United v Eastern Suburbs 1975

Scott Calvin6 Mar 2014, 10:49 a.m.

Sunday February 23 1975: “GETTING beaten 42-0 is an unusual way to emerge as a premiership prospect,” noted the Manning River Times on Tuesday February 25, two days after Taree United was beaten by that scoreline by Sydney rugby league premiers Eastern Suburbs at the Group Three Leagues Ground (Jack Neal Oval).

Throwback Thursday Taree United v Eastern Suburbs 1975

Taree United centre Mark Hogan

John Brass, Matthew Callinan and unknown player

Coaches Ron Boden and Jack Gibson

Arthur Beetson and young fan Wayne Sweeney

Jack Gibson

Referee Trevor Smith awards a penalty

Taree United centre Peter Walkom kicks ahead

Taree United hooker Errol Ruprecht and Easts five-eighth John Peard

Errol Ruprecht offloads as Greg Banderia moves in

Taree United's James 'Digger' Annand

Taree United's Paul Wilson looks to swoop on a loose ball

Down for the count: Referee Trevor Smith

Comboyne boy Ian Schubert played his first game for Eastern Suburbs.

Paul Wilson stops and Eastern Suburbs ball carrier. Eric Ferguson from Easts along with Wayne Burgess and Rex MacKellar from United are in the background.

Sunday February 23 1975: “GETTING beaten 42-0 is an unusual
way to emerge as a premiership prospect,” noted the Manning River Times on
Tuesday February 25, two days after Taree United was beaten by that scoreline
by Sydney rugby league premiers Eastern Suburbs at the Group Three Leagues
Ground (Jack Neal Oval).

“But Taree United, the 1974 Group Three Rugby League
premiers did just that at Chatham on Sunday,’’ the report continued.

“The Greens were on the receiving end of a 12 try scoring
spree and couldn’t break the defence themselves, but they showed enough to
suggest that they will still be a force to be reckoned with in Group Three
circles this winter. Their opponents on Sunday were the mighty Eastern Suburbs team,
last year certainly the best club team in Sydney and possibly the world.”

The Roosters had all their gun players on show - Arthur
Beetson, Russell Fairfax, Ian McKay, Mark Harris, Bill Mullins, John Peard,
Bruce Pickett, Dennis Tutty, John Brass and Ron Coote to name some. A teenager
from Wauchope, Ian Schubert, also made his debut for the tricolours. He had
played for Wauchope in Group Three the previous year.

Coach Jack Gibson patrolled the touch lines calling moves
and switching players and the Times reported that the Roosters gave the crowd
value for money.

New centre Peter Walkom turned in an eye catching effort for
United while James ‘Digger’ Annand was solid in the second row in his first
game for the club since returning from New Guinea.

Much needed rain fell for much of the day but the gate was
still $802.

“It would have been doubled with fine weather,’’ the Times
added.

United’s effort can be put into perspective. Later that year
Easts crushed St George 38-0 in the grand final. Robert Simpson took photos for
the Times.